Vehicle-jack.



B. G. RICHARDS.

VEHICLE JACK.

APPLICATION FILED oo'r.1o, 1912.

Patented June 2, 1914.

45 those skilled in the art.

UNITED srnrnwsggnna? omiten.

BRAYTON G. RICHARDS, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY S. WIKEL, 0F YORK, ELENNSYLVANIA.

VEHICLEJACK.

To @ZZ 'whom 'it may concern Be it known that-l, BRAYTON G. R101-Ilmos, a citizen ot' the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and

State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VehicleJacks,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvei'nents in vehicle jacks of the type adapted to elevate simultaneously the four wheels of a vehicle,

such as an automobile, from the ground, and has for its object the provision of an improved device of this character which is of simple construction and etlicient in operation.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter de- 'scribed and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which- F igure l is a partial side view of a jack embodying my invention. the cooperating parts of an automobile being indicated diathe construction, Fig. 4t is a view showing;l

the form ot' the lower member of a toggle joint employed in the construction and the method of connecting the same at the central joint of said toggle joint, and Fig. 5 is a detail view illustratingr a double acting pawl and ratchet construction for operatingr the jack.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawing comprises two independently swinging elevating arms 1 and 2 which are arranged to rest directly upon .a licor or other supporting surface ,and .swine` upwardly to elevate the axles of a vehicle, as will be readily understood by Each of these elevating arms is made in substantially U- form, as shown in Fig. 2, and each of the limbs of said arms is provided with an adjustable axle rest 3 for engaging the axle off an automobile or similar vehicle. Arms 1 and 2 are connected together at their bases by means of a chain a which permits of ready longitudinal adjustment between said armsU A bearing block 5 is connected with the base portion of arm 1 by means et' di- Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 10, 1912.

Patented J une 2, 1914.

Serial No. 724,935.

vergeht chains G, as slainvn` and serves as a rest and support for the lower end 7 of a toggle joint member S. The other member of said toggle joint consists ot two divergent bars 9 pivoted at their upper ends to a bar 10 connecting tread members l on arm 1. The lower ends of bars 9 and the upper end of member 8 are pivoted t-o a head 11 to constitute the central joint ot the toggle joint. A threaded shaft or screw 117 is passed loosely through head 11 and has a double acting,r ratchet wheel 12 secured to its outer end and resting against the outer end of head 11, as shown in Fig'. A co-llar 13 is also secured to shaft 11', as shown, to prevent longitudinal movement of head 11 on said shaft. A pawl -arm 13 is swiveled on head 11, as shown. and carries a double acting spring held pawl 111 by means of which ratchet wheel 12, and consequently shaft 11, may be rotated in either direction, as will be readily understood. Pawl arm 13 is provided with projection 15 which may be engaged by a suitable handle in order to increase the leverage it desired. At its inner end, shaft 11 is threaded in a block or nut 16 which is provided with side lugs 17 secured to the base portion of arm 1 by means ot' divergent chains 1S, as shown in Fig. 2.

In use, the rests 3 are engaged with the axles of the vehicle, as indicated in Fig. l, and pawl arm 13 manipulated to operatev toggle oint members S and 9 to elevate arm 1. Elevation of arm 1 moves the whole vehicle slightly longitudinally, such movement causing simultaneous operation of arm 2 to elevate that end of the vehicle. By employing* the toggle joint arranged as shown, it will be observed. that the first movement of arm l produced by said toggle joint will be quite rapid in proportion tol the movement ot shaft 11 so that all slack will be taken out ot the different connections quite rapidly, but, of course. at a corresponding expense of power. However, during the first operation of the jack but little power is necessary to effect. engagement ot the parts and to take all slack out ot the con nections. As the operation ot the tonsle joint is continued. the relative movement of arms 1 produced thereby decreases thus correspondingly increasinn the leverage eKerted in elevating` the vehicle. rFlur-1 during the last part ot the movement oi the litt-ing arms, when the full weight of the vehicle is supported thereby, the leverage 'exerted will be very great, thus facilitating the elevation of the vehicle. By employing divergent chains to secure nut 16 in place,

vturmgof said nut understrain is preventen it .lis desiredto lower the vehiclel tov contact with the floor and remove the jack, pawl 14 is reversed, as will be readily understood,'and"pawlarm'l employed in the usual manner to departing from the spirit of the invention.

I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the construction set forth, but desire vto avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my? invention, what I claim as new and desire toA secureby Letters Patent is:

'1. A vehicle jack comprising ,twoelevating armsrarranged to swing.. independently of each other, a bearing-connected to one of said arms at lts base; aftoggle joiithaving one end restingin saidfbearing and'the'othr end pivotally connectedr with the upper portion of said arm; a head pivotall mounted at the central joint of said toggie joint; a threaded shaft passing loosely through said head; a ratchet 'wheel secured to said shaft and resting against the outer end of said ineens-e headya pawl arm arranged to 4operate said ratchet in either direction; and a nut-threaded on the inner end of said shaft and connected with the `base of said arm by means of divergent chains, substantially as described. f .Y

2. A vehicle jack comprising two elevating arms arranged to swing independently of each other, each ofsaid armshconsisting of -a substantially U-shaped member havin axle rests at the upper ends of its `limbs and adapted to swing upon a ioor; a chain connecting said arms at their bases; a bearing block connected by means of chains with one of said arms at its base; a toggle joint having one end resting in said bearing and the other end pivotally connected with the upper portion of said arm; a head pivotally mounted at the central joint of said toggle joint; a threaded shaft passing-'loosely through said head; a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft and resting against the outer end of said head; a pawl arm arranged to operate said ratchet in either direction; and a nut threadedon the inner end of said shaft and connected with the base of said arm by means of divergent chains, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my nameto this specification in the presence or two subscribing witnesses.

' BRAYTON G. RICHARDS.

Witnesses: Y

A. A. OLSON, JOSHUA R. H. Po'r'rs. 

